May 17 What’s the Motivation of Strategic Defaulters? Question: Your pieces are my favorites, and I never miss one. You recently did one on real estate in Florida that raised a question At one point, you say, “Welsh says he stopped making payments six months ago, and… Continue reading
May 12 Is It Cheaper to Give Money Directly to Hurting Home Owners? Question: I know hindsight is 20-20, but I wonder. Would we have been better off providing mortgage payment assistance directly to the homeowners? It seems to me that the banks are really interested in conserving capital right now, so there… Continue reading
May 10 Is Limited Purpose Banking Being Considered a Possible Reform? Question: Is ‘limited purpose banking’ an idea under consideration in the new financial reform legislation? Paul Solman: I assume you’re talking about Boston University economist Larry Kotlikoff’s notion of turning bank accounts into mutual funds, featured here recently. If… Continue reading
May 07 Analysts See Signs of Recovery in Latest Jobs Report Editor’s note: According to the latest jobs numbers released Friday, the U.S. economy added 290,000 jobs in April, a welcome sign that an economic recovery may be taking root. But the unemployment rate also rose to 9.9 percent. We asked… Continue reading
May 06 Thursday’s Wild Market Ride Paul Solman: For anyone visiting the Business Desk today to find out why markets are quaking, allow me to repeat the phrase that ought to be the motto for this page, so often have I used it: Credit comes… Continue reading
May 05 What Is Open Book Management? Question: Love your piece on Jack Stack and SRC Holdings (watch here and here). I’m interested in the open book management policy. Is there more info somewhere on how to do that… Continue reading
May 03 Foreclosure Bargains Hurt By Chinese Drywall By Business Desk Editor’s note: As part of Paul’s continuing reporting on the foreclosure crisis, the report below examines a factor that is turning some foreclosed houses from bargains into liabilities. At the height of the building boom, contractors in the southern United… Continue reading
Apr 27 Live-blogging the Goldman Hearing Editor’s note: Paul is live-blogging the congressional subcommittee hearing on Goldman Sachs Tuesday. Read his comments here. Continue reading
Apr 22 South Florida: From Backwaters to Boom Towns Editor’s note: In Paul’s latest piece on strategic mortgage defaulters — people who are walking away from underwater mortgages even though they can often still afford to pay — he included an excerpt of a fascinating 2007 documentary produced… Continue reading